Multiplying with letters
[email protected]
Hi all,
I just posted this to my message boards, but no one really goes there, so I
thought I would send it to the list. I love seeing things like this unfold
before my eyes and wanted to share.
Yesterday, Alex (5yo) was coloring the letters on a poster of the
alphabet. The letters were arranged four to a row. He finished
the second row and asked, "What do two fours make?" After
the third row, he asked, "What do three fours make?" He
continued this to the fifth row. When he finished the sixth
row, he surprised me by asking a completely different question. He
asked, "What do three 'two fours' make?" I was thinking about
the people who made the poster and their intent for it: to
teach kids the alphabet. I am so glad I don't jump on
opportunities like this to try to teach what is intended.
Instead, we have tons of stuff like this and he goes through it
when he feels like it and does what he wants with it. In fact,
the book that the poster came in was given to him at
Christmas and he is just now going through it. If I had sat him
down at that time and worked with him on the letters, he may
have thought the book was supposed to teach him letters and
never given a thought to the math. I'm also glad I give him
exact answers to his questions, if I can. When he asks, "What
do two fours make?", I answer, "Eight." and not, "Well, let's
count it and see.", or similar distractions to his line of thinking.
Just think, one good intentioned, probing question could have
switched him away from exploring and enjoying multiplication.
As far as the alphabet goes, he did ask what 24 and 2 make
and then told me there were 26 letters in the alphabet. He
also noticed the M and the W were the same, only facing
different directions.
Cheryl
Nicholas Academy Homeschooling Resources
http://nicholasacademy.homestead.com
I just posted this to my message boards, but no one really goes there, so I
thought I would send it to the list. I love seeing things like this unfold
before my eyes and wanted to share.
Yesterday, Alex (5yo) was coloring the letters on a poster of the
alphabet. The letters were arranged four to a row. He finished
the second row and asked, "What do two fours make?" After
the third row, he asked, "What do three fours make?" He
continued this to the fifth row. When he finished the sixth
row, he surprised me by asking a completely different question. He
asked, "What do three 'two fours' make?" I was thinking about
the people who made the poster and their intent for it: to
teach kids the alphabet. I am so glad I don't jump on
opportunities like this to try to teach what is intended.
Instead, we have tons of stuff like this and he goes through it
when he feels like it and does what he wants with it. In fact,
the book that the poster came in was given to him at
Christmas and he is just now going through it. If I had sat him
down at that time and worked with him on the letters, he may
have thought the book was supposed to teach him letters and
never given a thought to the math. I'm also glad I give him
exact answers to his questions, if I can. When he asks, "What
do two fours make?", I answer, "Eight." and not, "Well, let's
count it and see.", or similar distractions to his line of thinking.
Just think, one good intentioned, probing question could have
switched him away from exploring and enjoying multiplication.
As far as the alphabet goes, he did ask what 24 and 2 make
and then told me there were 26 letters in the alphabet. He
also noticed the M and the W were the same, only facing
different directions.
Cheryl
Nicholas Academy Homeschooling Resources
http://nicholasacademy.homestead.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 02/13/2001 9:07:43 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
NicholasAcademy@... writes:
It sounds like a lovely "school."
Nance
NicholasAcademy@... writes:
Cheryl
Nicholas Academy Homeschooling Resources
http://nicholasacademy.homestead.com
It sounds like a lovely "school."
Nance
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/13/01 1:07:28 PM Pacific Standard Time,
NicholasAcademy@... writes:
<< As far as the alphabet goes, he did ask what 24 and 2 make
and then told me there were 26 letters in the alphabet. He
also noticed the M and the W were the same, only facing
different directions. >>
Great to see unschooling in action!
candice
NicholasAcademy@... writes:
<< As far as the alphabet goes, he did ask what 24 and 2 make
and then told me there were 26 letters in the alphabet. He
also noticed the M and the W were the same, only facing
different directions. >>
Great to see unschooling in action!
candice